steering gear box
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: oklahoma
steering gear box
Hey Fellas
My son had a fender bender in my 00 f250 super duty(he was driving it cause his was in the body shop) imagine that!!! he is 16 by the way. any way the front end shop said I need a new steering box because the tow in is good but the steering wheel is perpendicular instead of horizontal. He told me something about some spring (called is a clock spring) that would have to be careful with while replacing the steering box. I think he is trying to get the job. I do most of my own repair work as the information I have found on here has given me that opportuinty. any help with directions on how to replace the steering box would be greatly appreciated.
My son had a fender bender in my 00 f250 super duty(he was driving it cause his was in the body shop) imagine that!!! he is 16 by the way. any way the front end shop said I need a new steering box because the tow in is good but the steering wheel is perpendicular instead of horizontal. He told me something about some spring (called is a clock spring) that would have to be careful with while replacing the steering box. I think he is trying to get the job. I do most of my own repair work as the information I have found on here has given me that opportuinty. any help with directions on how to replace the steering box would be greatly appreciated.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
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I doubt it needs a new box, just needs the drag link adjusted I bet. The clock spring is what connects all the steering wheel electrics (cruise and airbag) to the truck, and allows the wheel to turn. It absolutly must be centered when the wheel is centered, otherwise it can be turned past the limit and break, rendering airbag and cuise buttons in-op. Unless you remove the box or wheel, don't worry about it.
The part that's broken in this pic is the part that needs adjusting. No need to replace the box unless the gears inside are actually damaged (doubtful unless one of the wheels was hit bad) or loose from age/wear.
You don't have to worry about messing your alignment because that sleeve just adjusts the box to wheel/tire center. Now, if the box is centered, wheels are centered, but steering wheel is not, it could be a whole 'nother mess. I'd personally would take it to a good alignment shop, and they'll sort it out.
If you intend on doing it yourself, center front wheels as close as possible, remove balljoint from pitman arm, center steering wheel by counting turns, and adjust sleeve til balljoint slips in hole, tighten. test drive and re-do as nessessary until tracks straight.
The part that's broken in this pic is the part that needs adjusting. No need to replace the box unless the gears inside are actually damaged (doubtful unless one of the wheels was hit bad) or loose from age/wear.
You don't have to worry about messing your alignment because that sleeve just adjusts the box to wheel/tire center. Now, if the box is centered, wheels are centered, but steering wheel is not, it could be a whole 'nother mess. I'd personally would take it to a good alignment shop, and they'll sort it out.
If you intend on doing it yourself, center front wheels as close as possible, remove balljoint from pitman arm, center steering wheel by counting turns, and adjust sleeve til balljoint slips in hole, tighten. test drive and re-do as nessessary until tracks straight.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 82
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From: oklahoma
The guy at the front end shop said the towin is correct but the shaft coming out of the box is not straight out it is pointed off to the side and the steering wheel is not straight. I dont know if I am explaining this correct or not but he said I needed a new box he wants about 500 to do the job I can get a box from napa for about 220 so was going to do the job myself but was needing to know about the clock spring and or directions to change the box.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
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The question is when the steering wheel is straight, where is the pitman arm pointing (the arm thing in this pic coming out the box)?
As long as you do not turn the wheel during the change, you'll be fine, just center the wheel and tiestrap it or something to the pedals to keep it from rotating. There's a couple how-tos on changing the box in here, but I'm on my way to work so I can't search for them.
As long as you do not turn the wheel during the change, you'll be fine, just center the wheel and tiestrap it or something to the pedals to keep it from rotating. There's a couple how-tos on changing the box in here, but I'm on my way to work so I can't search for them.
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 290
Likes: 5
From: Greene County,TN.
I used to do allot of these years ago. I agree that the sector shaft maybe twisted during the wreck. That is, if no other components are bent(drag link, tierods, etc.). You "could" just swap out the sector shaft and attaching top plate from a know good gearbox, rather than just replacing the whole thing. Fairly easy to reseal the gearbox also. Just ask for a upper & lower seal kit at the stealership & clean & reseal it while your in there.
To remove the gearbox, turn the ignition off and lock the steering wheel. Disconnect the steering shaft from the input shaft of the gearbox and collapse(make short) the steering shaft. Once the shaft is collapsed, go inside and then unlock the column and straighten the wheel, then lock it again until your done swapping the gearbox. When you ready to hook the shaft back up to the gearbox input shaft, while your holding the steering shaft, have someone else unlock the column. Reconnect shaft to gearbox input shaft. Remember that both the steering shaft and input shaft are keyed so that it'll only go on one way. Reconnect the p/s lines & bleed air out first before driving.
To remove the gearbox, turn the ignition off and lock the steering wheel. Disconnect the steering shaft from the input shaft of the gearbox and collapse(make short) the steering shaft. Once the shaft is collapsed, go inside and then unlock the column and straighten the wheel, then lock it again until your done swapping the gearbox. When you ready to hook the shaft back up to the gearbox input shaft, while your holding the steering shaft, have someone else unlock the column. Reconnect shaft to gearbox input shaft. Remember that both the steering shaft and input shaft are keyed so that it'll only go on one way. Reconnect the p/s lines & bleed air out first before driving.
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